A recent study reveals that human agricultural civilization began to develop around 100,000 years ago. This hypothesis was published in the journal “Science” (USA) on June 22.
The hypothesis is based on evidence of the oldest and previously unknown types of hulled grains recently discovered in Israel and Algeria. This finding has changed the prevailing view that hulled grains first appeared in Europe.
Prior to this new discovery, researchers believed that the earliest signs of agricultural culture emerged around 40,000 years ago when modern humans appeared on the old continent.
However, recent research from scientists at the National Scientific Research Center in Talence (France) and University College London (UK) suggests that hulled grains were used as jewelry, indicating that agricultural culture appeared much earlier in the North African and Middle Eastern regions.
By examining collections in museums, researchers discovered perforated grain shells originating from the Skhun region of Israel and Oued Guebli in Algeria that resemble hard grains dated to approximately 75,000 years ago, found in caves in South Africa.
Currently, these grains are used to make bead jewelry. One of the co-authors of this research concluded that the first inhabitants of Africa not only represented modern humans biologically but also intellectually and culturally.
A researcher from University College London emphasized that jewelry and other decorative items are among the most important early expressions of human civilization.
